Lexi’s Comments (group member since Jul 27, 2016)

Lexi’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

Audrey, which one did you read? I enjoy T. Kingfisher's romance fantasy books esp the three ones with the rat god. I also highly recommend her MG books even to people who don't usu read MG, starting with Minor Mage.

I'll volunteer for this one as well since my library has me at a 6 week wait, which is about perfect.

Edited: Team Max

I'll volunteer and it is a reread for me so any day works.

Ha, this substantiates my theory that everything is Jenny’s fault. (I’m completely innocent this time).

The King of Infinite Space by Lyndsay Faye

In this lush, magical, queer, and feminist take on Hamlet in modern-day New York City, a neuro-atypical physicist, along with his best friend Horatio and artist ex-fiancé Lia, are caught up in the otherworldly events surrounding the death of his father.

Meet Ben Dane: brilliant, devastating, devoted, honest to a fault (truly, a fault). His Broadway theatre baron father is dead—but by purpose or accident? The question rips him apart.

Unable to face alone his mother’s ghastly remarriage to his uncle, Ben turns to his dearest friend, Horatio Patel, whom he hasn’t seen since their relationship changed forever from platonic to something…other. Loyal to a fault (truly, a fault), Horatio is on the first flight to NYC when he finds himself next to a sly tailor who portends inevitable disaster. And who seems ominously like an architect of mayhem himself.

Meanwhile, Ben’s ex-fiancé Lia, sundered her from her loved ones thanks to her addiction recovery and torn from her art, has been drawn into the fold of three florists from New Orleans—seemingly ageless sisters who teach her the language of flowers, and whose magical bouquets hold both curses and cures. For a price.

On one explosive night these kinetic forces will collide, and the only possible outcome is death. But in the masterful hands of Lyndsay Faye, the story we all know has abundant surprises in store. Impish, captivating, and achingly romantic, this is Hamlet as you’ve never seen it before.

Cat wrote: "Lexi wrote: "I agree, which is why I gave it three and not two stars, but I deeply get annoyed and will always notice medical errors. I know people who are that way with legal errors, so each reade..."

The medical error was that the author did not seem to consider that the police would have been able to tell the woman was post-partum. Honestly, it is not even medical as just common sense. It was too big of a plot hole for me.

My parents lived in London for almost ten years and my mother gets the same way on TV shows or books by Americans that just get the city so wrong. Also, ouch on the elevator.

I agree, which is why I gave it three and not two stars, but I deeply get annoyed and will always notice medical errors. I know people who are that way with legal errors, so each reader varies.

DQ Part 3 - Saturday
10. How do you feel about the ending of the book in the present? What are your thoughts on the past reveal? Was the cave in too Deus ex Machina?
The ending annoyed me. I gave it three stars for now since I tend to drop a star for BOMs as I have to think about them more and thus they have longer to annoy me.
I apparently gave the author way too much credit that she left such big plot holes, such as how did the police miss that the dead victim had just given birth and apparently could nurse so also would have had those physical changes too. Also, why did the mine company not notice a recent cave in? Why did no one check the mine? Everyone would have had to have been really stupid to miss everyone in this book. I expected a more exciting ending because I figured everyone else was stupid was not going to be the answer.
The cave in was a little too convenient since the pastor thought he would survive apparently. I again wanted a better answer but I guess a suicide cult would have also been a bit much. Finally, why is speaking in tongues used to indicate they had all lost it. That really isn’t nice to the Pentecostals and other faith traditions that do practice that particular activity.

11. Were you surprised by how Max acted?
I guessed he was leading up to something. He was just a little too there all the time but making a point on him just being a jerk was a little less fun than him being the pastor’s long lost grandson or something.

12. Did you feel sad for any of the character deaths? Past or present?
Nope – I liked Esla best but still nope.

13. What are your thoughts on the epilogue? Was it necessary?
I asked a leading question here so again nope. It may have been trying to provide closure but by also making her start hearing things, I think it undermined some of its own stated message on being about women’s mental health.

Bonus: 14. Getting back to the mental health quote, do you think this book actually discussed the issue? Do you think Tone was portrayed realistically or sympathetically or just as a red herring?
I don’t. I think this is a run of the mill thriller that did not have the depth or character development to deal with the issue she wanted to. I also thought Tone’s break with reality and running around on her ankle seemed to require a high degree of suspension of disbelief.

DQ Part 3 - Saturday
10. How do you feel about the ending of the book in the present? What are your thoughts on the past reveal? Was the cave in too Deus ex Machina?

11. Were you surprised by how Max acted?

12. Did you feel sad for any of the character deaths? Past or present?

13. What are your thoughts on the epilogue? Was it necessary?

Bonus: 14. Getting back to the mental health quote, do you think this book actually discussed the issue? Do you think Tone was portrayed realistically or sympathetically or just as a red herring?

Alysa wrote: "Cat wrote: "Whatever, I very much doubt that Mattias himself dies (cult leader types rarely join their brainwashed followers into death). Does that mean one of the team is his grandson, and doesn't..."

I assume the baby isn’t Brigitte’s since even a 1950’s autopsy could tell if a woman just gave birth, and the blood implies maternal hemorrhaging as well. Also, preeclampsia is an anachronistic term for this time period. The mother would have most likely used pregnancy toxemia if any medical term at that time.

DQ Day 4-5 : 32%-62% (p198)

6. Alice muses on the different perceptions of Esla from her grandmother and Aina, and of course we are in her POV for the Then sections? What do you think about Elsa?

I like Elsa and I think the MC is kind of dumb if she has all these letters and hasn’t figured out the preacher being a sexual predator thing.

7. Emmy and Alice have a big disagreement over Tone's injury and how to respond. Do you favour one side of the argument over the other? Was Emmy's decision to take off to get a call out justified?

The whole scene was kind of a mess. Leaving to just call mum seems dumb if that is all she did. Either Tone is an adult or not. Really, there needed more plans in place for injury before starting and at minimum after the injury occurred.

8. Do you think Alice was right to keep Tone's secrets? Conversely, do you think Max was right to share both her secrets?

I think Max should not have told either secret and that is especially true of prescription medicines which depending on dosage can be used for a variety of reasons. That is a violation of Tone’s privacy and not acceptable under any context unless to a first responder to get help.

9. What the divvil is actually going on?! (In either timelines)

With the real priest disappearing I support the fake priest theory and obviously he has started a cult where he sleeps with the teenagers and raped Brigitte. That isn’t particularly subtle and as author’s go unless there is a twist, comes across as lazy writing to me. Considering the intro and plot progression so far, I also am suspicious of the current day male characters esp. Max knowing more than he lets on. Otherwise, the whole sex priest thing is just reading as boring to me. I will go read my section for questions next, but this is an average book so far.

DQ Day 1-2 : beginning to 32% (p101)

1. What attracted you to this book? Do you tend to read a lot of horror/thriller/suspense novels (or not), and what are your expectations for them?
I am trying when I have time to be more active in BOM outside of TT and Wheel, so here I am. I read some horror but I find most of them fail for me on the reveal as they build great suspense but when the creature/person is actually revealed it is a letdown, so I will see.

2. Poor doomed Silvertjärn was a "Company Town" where the company shut down. Do you think the 1950s sections do a good job of describing what it was like for the townspeople at that time?
I am very familiar with company towns in the Appalachian regions so this has been interesting in its similarities and differences. Actually, mostly similarities.

3. The relationships in the modern day sections are interesting. Things seem complex and messy, especially between the female characters. Alice is the only one who knows about Tone's real connection to Silvertjärn. The bad blood between Alice and Emmy causes a lot of tension. The possible romantic entanglements are unclear. What are your thoughts about these relationships? What do you think of Alice's reasons for bringing Max, Tone, Emmy, and Robert onto this film project?
Well, the author needed drama, or this would be a boring book. Otherwise, I don’t really care about any of them yet.

4. We're getting hints that Pastor Mattias was at the center of a weird religious sect. Do you think this will turn out to be true, or just a red herring?
Probably true. I know someone mentioned that he wasn’t likely sent but as Church of Sweden being a state church, it is probable that he was sent there. However, getting sent to the middle of nowhere often occurs if you have pissed off someone or screwed up royally previously.

5. Before the "official" DQs kicked off, our lovely mod Cat mentioned being struck by the timeliness of reading "a book about how society views women suffering from mental illness." How do you think the book has handled this topic so far?
It hasn’t really. We have the three people with mental illnesses clearly but no real nuance yet or sympathy.

That last one will get you cursed out on the long escalators from the T in Boston.

I can do low level Python code but only for maps and stats, and not game design, which I would guess it would fall under.

Joyce, Can you add Me to yout TT shelf? Thank you

Team Oook's Mystery Horror (now with Male Models and Snacks)

Miss Marple sat on her porch enjoying the “Frost and Starlight.” Some would call her house a “Bleak House” with the unending noise of the waves on the shore and the cold rise of the mountains. However, it fits her purposes exactly. She may be an amateur sleuth, but a highly competent one. Furthermore, she knew from village life that everyone had “Deadly Secrets” if you were willing to “Scratch the Surface” a bit. Her thoughts were interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a “Long Black Cadillac” and motorcycles.

Stopping in front of a large group of half-dressed men, and giving them her best stare, she demanded, “Who are you?”

The first man stepped forward and introduced himself, as “the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Blackbeck—and notorious rogue … with a heart as dark as his Mediterranean looks.” The next man apparently was a “hot tamale of a ginger with icy eyes, the perfect playoff beard, and a body built for sin.” At that a third man introduced himself more succinctly as a “hottie lumberjack aka Sir McHotpants.” As a well-dressed fourth man introduced himself as “hot, blond and flexible,” Miss Marple cut them off, “What are you doing at my house?” she practically spit.

“You invited us to the Romance Cover Male Model Convention,” Sir McHotpants replied, as everyone piled into her house. However, little did the guest know there was “An Unexpected Peril” at this house party, as one of these uninvited guests was an “Inside Man.”

Inside, men were posing without their shirts and planning “leisurely gourmet meals, tennis matches, and plenty of relaxation by the pool,” as Miss Marple tried to explain she had not invited them and had neither tennis courts nor pool. Two men seemed to be planning to run away to a tropical beach together on their motorcycle in between staring into each other’s eyes. Murderbot could not figure out how it got to the party, as it was neither male nor a romance cover model and was planning on leaving immediately. As it stood there, DEATH walked over and offered a canape, “I’m supposed to be here for the next act, but this is excruciating.”

Thankfully for DEATH, the next act was about to start as “hot, blonde and flexible” stood dramatically in front of the largest window and declared he was part of a cult bent on raising the dead gods from the ocean as he was “Psycho by the Sea” and would rule the world. Miss Marple sighed putting her sleuthing skills to work and with little effort decided he was likely why this house party was currently at her house on the Winter Solstice.

However, “Psycho by the Sea” failed to consider the weather forecast, as a torrential, world-ending “Tempest” had been gathering, and one of the guests came running inside screaming about bodies in the garden. Lightning set the roof on fire, and the air smelled of “Burning Roses.” Miss Marple stood there and considered the chaos around her with a slight smile. As Psycho was chanting, “in dark corners, strange creatures are stirring,” the window broke as a large tree branch came crashing through, hitting him on the head. He stopped chanting and looked around with a “Change of Heart” and asked, “Where am I?”

DEATH sighed, “Amnesia, really?” and looking over at Murderbot, suggested they might go to the library. DEATH has just adopted a puppy and while DEATH enjoyed walking and bathing said puppy, house training was a pain. They left with DEATH mumbling about adopting a cat instead.

Miss Marple muttered, “Incompetent,” and started to call the Old Ones “Down Among the Sticks and Bones” herself. She was surprised no one thought to question the dead bodies in the garden among the chaos, but “They (that) Come by Night” liked fresh snacks better anyways.

The sound of a motorcycle was heard behind the chanting, as “hot tamale” and the former “Psycho by the Sea” decided on a road trip to the beach to Find Their Forever.

The house continued to burn down around Miss Marple, and both will be gone by morning, sucked down to the “Dark Places” of the “Drowned Cities.” Apparently, the snacks were not up to the Old Ones standards.

DQs- Day 3

9. If you were confronted with Lord Mountjoy Quickfang Winterforth IV’s ominously rumbling tummy and the prospect of more dragon fire, how would you react?
If you had to stick around, hitting him first might cause he to explode on the user. Otherwise, exiting promptly is always a good idea.


10. If you witnessed a massive dragon being vanquished in one sword hit, would you entirely believe it or do you think you may hold suspicions on the “neatness”?
Animals aren’t neat especially dead ones so I would be very suspicious.

11. This section cemented my love for Lady Sybil, with her no-nonsense stern reproach of the dragon. If she had maintained eye contact, do you think her approach would have worked?
No, I think at some point, there needs to be a new approach and admitting that not all animals are the same, especially when dealing with a domesticated versus wild animal in the same family and by scale. Eye contact can be seen as a challenge in large predators.

12. Since the beginning of the book, has your opinion on Captain Vimes changed? If so, why?
Nope, he always was going to do the right thing but be hesitant about it and he stays that way but continues to grow in confidence and sense of purpose.

5. In this section, TP is shedding some light (or dark?) on the Patrician's character. What is your opinion about him? Would you prefer him to rule your country instead of the "real" politicians?(A question to DW Veterans: do you remember any other books where V's aversion to mime artists is mentioned or we are given an explanation why?)
The one man, one vote quote for Lord V has always been one of my favorite. The way he moves pieces around and is always a few steps ahead is fun to read. For the mimes, I don’t think we are ever given why as I think it is just a quirk.

6. What about Lady Sybil as the "heroine" or female MC of the book? She certainly seems to be the complete opposite of how "classical heroines" are represented in fantasy or other books. Have you met her counterpart / someone very like her in non-DW books or films? Would you get a pet dragon if you had the chance?

I think she was more unusual at the time she was “Guards Guards” was written. You have older heroines now. I am especially reminded of Kingfisher’s Swordheart or Saints of Steel heroines but they have a little more nuance.

I would pass on a dragon. They seem to have the desire to have their GI system kill themself even more than horses and you don’t see me working with those either.


7. If you are familiar with the detective fiction/mystery genre, do you think Guards! Guards! has been following a similar structure in its idiosyncratic way so far?

I think some of the later Guards follow the pattern more and this one reads more like pure fantasy.

8. Maybe it's too early to ask this question, but I am not a character to able to resist the temptation of it. Please forgive me.
So, any ideas, who which actors/actress would you choose as Lord Vetinari / Sam Vimes / Carrot / Lady Sybil. ...etc if you were a casting director?

Not something I ever really think about. I don’t watch very many if any movies.

SandyL wrote: "This is awesome, Lexi!!! Thanks for all the work you put into this - your creativity is on full display!!! My favorite is paragraph 3 - too funny!!

Thanks again!!"

Glad you enjoyed it; you read quite a few of the books used for paragraph 3

DQs Day 1 (ends: "'That means you too, Sergeant' the captain added. 'Yessir.'" )

1. For the newbies: what did you expect before opening a police procedural written by Pterry? For re-readers, how does this sub-series line up in your order of preferences?

The guards have generally always been my favorites with a few specific books also being high up there (Wee Free Men and Reaper Man among others).

2. The first person we meet in this story is Vimes, meet collapsing, drunker, into the gutter... What does this mean for the story? For newbies: how do you feel about Vimes?

Vimes could not catch a break. Going back after reading the full series the first time was really interesting, but this is my 4th or so reread at this point. I was very young the first time I read these so I don’t think I had too many expectations.

3. The Brethren (and I loved the elaborate exchange of codes!) have a discussion of the Lost King trope. Do you think the Supreme Grand Master will be able to find Ankh-Morpork's Lost King???

See note on 4th or so reread. Though, I love the vocabulary and small mindedness and how that is being manipulated.

4. Carrot is our route to discovering Ankh-Morpork. Do you find this an effective way to understanding the city and its issues?
I found it very useful as we get to learn alongside and while normal to the inhabitants, Ankh-Morpork is as strange to Carrot as it is to us.